Sunday, 17 March 2013

Hyderabadi bangles

Laad Bazaar or Choodi Bazaar is a very old market popular for bangles located in Hyderabad. It is located on one of the four main roads that branch out from the historic place 'Charminar'.

Laad meaning lacquer is used to make bangles, on which artificial diamonds are studded. In this 1kilometre long shopping strip, most of the shops sell bangles, saris, wedding related items, and cheap jewellery.This market is very old, in operation since the time of the Qutb Shahis and the Nizams. It is close to landmarks such as Charminar, Makkah Masjid and Chowmahalla Palace .

The narrow lane is filled with burkha-clad women, bangle shops and old buildings with wooden balconies, bargaining and haggling is part and parcel of this market. Shopkeepers employ "beckoning" tactics, placing an employee at the entrance of the store beckoning passers-by to enter their shop.